Be the Church

Acts 2:41-47
    
    How many times have you heard the phrase, “Go to church?” It has been used in many ways: “Time to go to church,” “I gotta go to church this weekend,” “I love to go to church,” etc. My question to you is, where do you read any statement like that in the bible? You don’t! This is an absolutely foreign concept to scripture. No one in the first century, “went to church” they “were the church.” Read the scripture reading; Acts 2:41-47. You see the saved, which made up the church and is the church (Acts 2:41 & 47), were continually devoting themselves to proper doctrine, fellowship, taking the Lord’s Supper, prayer, taking care of the physical needs of their fellow brethren, publicly teaching in the temple, and taking common meals together. Is worship required? Absolutely (Heb. 10:25-26)! But, they didn’t “go to church.” The church came together to worship regularly (1 Cor. 16:1-2). They were commanded to come together to partake of a memorial supper of the Lord’s sacrifice (Matt. 26:26-28; 1 Cor. 11:17-34; Acts 20:7), pray (1 Thess. 5:16-18), sing praises to God, as well as teach and admonish their fellow brethren through song, (Rom. 15:9-12; Col. 3:16-17), take up a free will offering for the work of the church (1 Cor. 16:1-4; 2 Cor. 8:12 & 9:6-8), and teach the Scriptures (Acts 5:42; 2 Tim. 4:1-5).  They did these acts of worship as well as practice benevolence to those around them and everything else listed above. This is being the church, not going to church. We need to make sure we focus on what the church does 24/7, not just going to and from a building. I love you all!

In His service,
Steven Hugley